Authorities say someone took the display off of a woman’s porch; however, surveillance cameras were rolling when it all happened.

Maria Ruston loves Christmas, loves to celebrate Christmas. She puts up lights and an antique Santa Claus that dances and sings. She has had it for 30 years, but now it’s gone.

The Santa, her favorite Christmas decoration, was snatched from her front porch about 3 a.m. Monday.

“It’s very sentimental. My mother left it to me before she passed on, and I’ve had it a long time,” said Ruston.

In a neighborhood where crime is getting to be a real problem, as well as nasty neighbors, Ruston installed video cameras.

To her surprise, Ruston’s video cameras captured a brazen thief wearing a hood and a mask walking up to her house, pausing at the front steps, apparently taking a look at the Santa, and a few seconds later walking off of the front porch with the Santa he ripped off in his left hand.

“It’s kind of a useless crime. I’d like it returned to me. It’s something my mother bought,” says Ruston.

Police have the video. They don’t know what to make of this crime, maybe a junkie, maybe a prankster or a common thief.

Regardless, Ruston hopes the video will help. She also offered a description of Santa.

“A little shorter than me, about four-and-a half-foot, red velvet suit, the beard, the glasses – just like Santa you would think he’d look. And it danced, the hips, the arms swung and he sang “Winter Wonderland,’” says describes.

So the request is simple, Ruston says no questions asked, bring Santa back in the middle of the night, plug him in on the porch and all will be fine and merry this Christmas.